Supporting a Pathway to Healing
I love doing a walkabout on our campus at 89th and Capitol Drive. It is a busy and even bustling place. As I walk, I welcome the chance to chat with our employees, who are hard-working ambassadors of hope, and our many guests, who are seeking support and care at a time in their lives when they need it. I embrace the belief that when we open our campus doors wide to the community’s needs, we give people a window of hope and a pathway to healing.
As I walk to get my mail or grab a cup of tea, I meet so many people who energize me to fulfill our mission to serve the community. At Wellpoint Care Network, we envision a world where children and families thrive. And, we care for people of all ages who need our understanding, support and the tools to create positive change in their lives — to find their thrive.
On my walkabouts, I see the gentle and compassionate way our guest services representatives and 300+ employees greet people and direct them to where they are going. While people wait in our Social Hall for their appointment or meeting, I see how a simple snack can settle a hungry toddler or a cup of hot coffee can soothe a frazzled parent. I see how our bright and comfortable spaces can convey a message of warm welcome, without anyone having to say anything at all.
As I walk, I can greet people in our Mental Health Clinic. Very young children who are squirming to get to their occupational therapy or art therapy session just down the hallway. I see teens waiting for a mental health appointment who may be both excited and nervous, hopeful, yet pensive. I can welcome caregivers who bring children and youth to Wellpoint Care for care. I understand how a simple greeting or a warm smile helps alleviate the caregiver’s worries. They want the best for the children and see Wellpoint Care as a place where healing can happen. I am grateful for their trust in us.
As energizing as our campus can be, we can also experience the frustrations of people in our care. In much of our work, we walk alongside parents at a very vulnerable time in their lives, where poverty, homelessness, substance use or unemployment can upend their well-being and create a disruption in their relationship with their children. As we engage parents, we learn that they may want changes that are not possible in the moment or permanent solutions for their family that may take time. We strive to be the bridge for them from these present challenges to a brighter future. Yet on my walkabout, I sometimes see the raw pain that parents can experience. I am humbled by their hurt and committed to ensure that Wellpoint Care Network honors their truth and supports their family’s pathway to healing.
I invite you to walk with Wellpoint Care to support pathways to healing in our community. Visit us here to learn about the many ways you can help.